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THE BEADING SKIRMISH. |
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THE READING SKIRMISH.
Several companies, principally Irish, belonging to the army of King James, and stationed at Reading, had quitted the town in consequence of a report that the Prince of Orange was advancing in that direction with the main body of his forces. On the departure of the garrison, the people of Reading at once invited the Prince to take possession of the place, and secure them against the Irish. But the King's troops, having learned that it was only a small detachment of WilÂliam's soldiers, and not the main army, by whom they were threatened, returned and reoccupied their post. Here they were attacked by two hundred and fifty of the Dutch, and though numbering six hundred, were soon put to flight, with the loss of their colors and of fifty men, the assailants losing but five. This skirÂmish occurred on Sunday, the 9th of December, 1688.
This piece is extracted from Crokert Historical Songs of Ireland, p. 14, Percy Society, vol. i., and was there given from a collection of printed ballads in the British Museum. The burden seems to be derived from the following stanza of LRU burlero:
" Now, now de heretics all go down,
IAUi, $c. By Chreist and St. Patrick de nation's our own,
LiUi, <fc. |
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